Oil Change Service: Every 3,000 or 5,000 Miles?

Does it confuse you that there seem to be so many different opinions about how often to take your vehicle in for an oil change service? You aren’t alone. It seems like even auto manufacturers can’t agree on how often to have it done. Each one will give you a recommendation in the owner’s manual, but as you might have guessed, that isn’t necessarily the right timetable for you.

The most common advice given today is that for the typical vehicle and owner, oil change service every 5,000 miles or six months, whichever comes first, will give you reasonable protection against engine damage. You may be able to stretch this if you use high-quality synthetic oil. However, there are some situations in which you may want to consider having it done earlier than this. Here are a few examples:

You live on or drive on a dirt road regularly. Dirt goes everywhere and can necessitate more frequent oil change service needs. Off-road driving is also a good way to add on extra oil change service requirements.

If you live in a climate that is either extremely cold or off-the-charts hot, it can affect the viability of the oil and require more frequent oil change services.

An older car, particularly one that burns oil, will need oil changes more often.

If you load your vehicle down on a regular basis with more than the average amount of weight, you should have the oil changed sooner.

Think about your driving habits. If you are prone to some bad habits, such as excessive speed, fast acceleration and flooring it at lights, you will want to change the oil more often.

Your vehicle’s performance, efficiency, and reliability all depend on adequate and timely oil change service appointments. If you are ready for an oil change service or want to learn more about how often it should be done, come see us at Highway Tire Auto & Lube. We’ll be happy to help you determine the best schedule considering your specific situation, even if you do go off road from time to time.